United Metropolitan breaks ground at Metropolitan Village
Today, Thursday, Sept. 22, United Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church (UMMBC) will officially break ground on Metropolitan Village, a mixed-use development in the heart of East Winston.
In March church officials announced the redevelopment of the property, which encompasses Third and Fourth streets between Highland Avenue and Woodland Avenue. The $65 million redevelopment project is expected to kick off phase one of the East End Masterplan.
The redeveloped property is expected to include 325 residential units as well as retail space, common and private workspaces. Redevelopment efforts were spearheaded by UMMBC’s “Beyond the Sanctuary” initiative which was started in 2019.
According to church officials, the redevelopment is aimed at creating “equitable redevelopment” by minimizing displacement, opening new spaces for economic mobility, and by bringing a new approach to diversity and inclusion.
Development of the site will be handled by Liberty Atlantic, which is based in Charlotte. The project is expected to be completed in 2024.
When discussing Metropolitan Village, Rev. Alvin T. Armstead, pastor of UMMBC, and Jaron Norman, CEO of Liberty Atlantic, said the redevelopment is more than just putting up new buildings.
“We strongly believe that investing in the redevelopment of this area is about so much more than just new buildings and living spaces and hoping change will come,” Armstead said. “We have an obligation to use this as an opportunity to tangibly improve the mental, physical, spiritual and financial lives of the people in our community.”
“Our efforts go above and beyond the traditional redevelopment approach of building units and filling them with residents who can maximize value for the developer. We believe there is an approach that emphasizes and prioritizes the health and well-being of our residents, while also creating value for our partners and investors,” Norman said. “We believe healthier, more productive workers are a win for everyone.”
The groundbreaking ceremony is open to the public and scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. Those planning to attend should park in the parking lot on the corner of Metropolitan Drive and Fourth Street.
